Developed as an eco-friendly sports car that adapts to AC Schnitzer's new motto "Efficient Performance", the 99d gets its name from its CO2 emission levels and the diesel powerplant housed under its hood.
More specifically, the tuning house fitted the Z4 with the BMW 320d Efficient Dynamic's 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. After some performance upgrades, the four-pot's output was lifted from 163HP and 380Nm, to 190HP and 420Nm.
AC Schnitzer says the 99d can go from naught to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.9 seconds en route to a top speed of 235km/h (146mph), while returning an impressive fuel consumption of 3.8lt/100km (61.9 mpg US) with CO2 emissions of just 99.18 g/km.
To achieve these striking numbers, the German tuner also reduced the roadster's weight by 230kg (507 pounds).
"With the AC Schnitzer 99d, we've succeeded in building the previously inconceivable: an up-rated performance vehicle whose CO2 emissions have been reduced to 99 g/km and which, despite its sustainability, offers pure driving pleasure. That's Efficient Performance by AC Schnitzer," the company said in a brief statement.
According to the tuner, the price of the 99d is €149,000 or about US$205,500 at today’s exchange rates, but that's about all the details AC Schnitzer is willing to release before unveiling the car at the Geneva Salon.
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Developed as an eco-friendly sports car that adapts to AC Schnitzer's new motto "Efficient Performance", the 99d gets its name from its CO2 emission levels and the diesel powerplant housed under its hood.
We knew BMW's brand-new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine was coming to the States but now, the Bavarian automaker has made it official. The German company released a statement saying the first cars to be equipped with the force-fed four-banger will "arrive later this year" in the USA.
The 2.0-liter unit made its debut on the X1 compact crossover and will eventually replace BMW’s trademark normally aspirated 3.0-liter inline six. While BMW's US division has yet to announce which models will get the new engine, in Europe, the automaker has already confirmed the powerplant for the Z4 coupe-roadster and the 5-Series range.
In the U.S., the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six is currently available on these models:
-128i Coupe / Convertible 230HP
-328i Sedan / Coupe / Convertible / Sports Wagon / xDrive 230HP
-528i Sedan 240HP
-X3 xDrive28i 240HP
-Z4 sDrive30i 255HP
There's a strong possibility that BMW will offer the new 2.0-liter turbo on all of these models in the U.S. but this has yet to be confirmed.
BMW's more for less 2.0-liter unit combines twin-scroll turbocharging with high-pressure direct-injection and the firm's VALVETRONIC intake control. In the X1, the maximum output of 240 horsepower is achieved at 5,000 rpm, or 1,500 rpm lower than in the normally-aspirated 3.0-liter inline six. The peak torque of 260 lb-ft, comes on tap at just 1,250 rpm, which according to BMW, is not only 30% more torque than the aforementioned inline six, it also peaks 1,500 rpm earlier. On top of that, BMW says the four-pot also returns 16 per cent better fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.
Earlier this week, BMW unveiled its new 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine which will effectively replace the firm's classic, naturally aspirated straight-six. The force-fed four banger made its debut on the X1 compact crossover, but today, the Bavarian automaker officially confirmed that the new engine will be available in other models "such as the BMW Z4 and 5 Series in due course." While BMW did not give out a launch date, expect to see both models towards the end of the year or early 2012, depending on the market.
In the X1 28xDrive, the new turbocharged twin-scroll engine churns out 245hp and 350Nm torque from just 1,250rpm, with BMW claiming that the four-cylinder unit is lighter and more compact than the equivalent six-cylinder engine, while also returning 16 per cent better fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.
Last time we reported about BMW's long-rumored family of turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, it was in the summer of 2010. Meanwhile, the German manufacturer hasn't revealed anything on the matter, giving the whole affair an almost mythical status.
However, a new rumor has surfaced, with Automobile Magazine tweeting that the entry level BMW Z4 will soon get a new, 4-cylinder force inducted engine, as a replacement for the naturally aspirated inline-six.
The exact tweet was “BMW new 4-cyl coming this year in Z4 roadster. Replaces nat asp 6, so at least 200 hp” and, seeing that average fuel consumption regulations and emissions standards are getting stricter by the day, it sounds like a logical move for BMW.
The Bavarian company sure knows how to build a fine turbocharged engine and there are many models in its line-up that could benefit from a more frugal, and equally if not more powerful four-pots. The 1-Series and 3-Series are just two that come to mind right, although we’re pretty sure that X3 owners wouldn’t mind better fuel economy as well.
Clearly, the question here is not “why”, but rather “when”, and at the rate things are going, we’d say let's meet up again this summer and we’ll hopefully have some more official info for you.
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bmw z4 imageJeremy Clarkson bet his money on a Mazda MX5 that featured a unique “car of many colors” paintjob, an “axle of evil” and body full of holes, as a testimony to a “bulletproofing” plan gone wrong. An oversized bullbar and hookah pipe were also installed, but the latter fell off at some point in the journey. James May went for an Afrika Korps and Luftwaffe themed BMW Z3, complete with a shovel and pickaxe mounted on the bonnet, plus a gas canister on the left fender. Richard Hammond used a Fiat Barchetta, which, surprisingly, proved to be quite reliable. Special touches applied included actual “bits” of desert glued to the front of the car and parts of a Bedouin tent strapped to the rear. World of Top Gear features a collection of cars used over the years in different challenges by the cast of the TV show and it also includes the “Enormodrome”, a recreation of the actual studio where the show is filmed. “We like to keep the exhibition as up to date as we possibly can and what could be better than for fans to see the show on TV and then the cars just a few days later”, said Stephen Munn, Commercial Director at the National Motor Museum. For more information visit www.beaulieu.co.uk.
This year’s Top Gear Christmas Special saw Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May embark on their most dangerous challenge yet: following the path of the three wise men, which took them on a 1,200 mile (1,932 km) journey, from Iraq to Bethlehem. In classic Top Gear fashion, the TV show hosts completed the trip in a trio of specially modified cars. These vehicles are now on display in the World of Top Gear exhibition at Beaulieu, UK. 
The Z4 sDrive 35i's twin-turbocharged inline six benefits from the BI-TRONIK performance module that that pushes the factory engine's output from a standard 306HP and 400Nm (295-lbs/ft) of torque to a more satisfying 345HP and 480Nm (354-lbs/ft) of torque. G-Power claims that with this kit, the 345HP Z4 Roadster can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 4.7 seconds, or half a second faster than the factory model.
G-Power's offerings also include a new coil-over suspension and a more sonorous stainless steel sport rear muffler with four tail pipes. While the tuning firm has not released any type of aero parts (yet), Z4 owners can equip their car with a new set of 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport rubber (255/30 ZR 20 up front and 295/25 ZR 20 at the rear).
And now for the prices. The cost for the 20 inch alloy wheels along with the Michelin tires is €4,474 while the coil-over suspension is €1,256 and the rear muffler, €1,508. As for the engine kit, prices have been set at €1,978 but unless you know your way around the engine bay, you'll have to pay another €403 to get it installed.
German tuner G-Power has decided to share some of the technology found on the 800-horsepower M5 Hurricane RR and M6 Hurricane RR with the masses by offering a modified version of the supercharger system on the [previous generation] E85 BMW Z4 as well as the E46 Series with the 3.0-liter straight-six engine. On both models, the redesigned SK Plus supercharger system replaces the previous ASA TM3 supercharger.
The geometry of the compressor has been modified as has the housing, resulting in a more efficient build-up of boost in the middle rev-range. With a 0.3 bar pressure boost, the SK Plus kit increases output by 55 ponies, to 286 hp and 345 Nm (255 lb-ft). Thanks to the extra oomph, the tuned Z4 accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.4 seconds.
To be able to wring out every bit of performance delivered through force induction, the German tuner recommends customers to specify their cars with a 9-way adjustable coil-over sport suspension. 20-inch multi-spoke Silverstone Diamond alloys, wrapped around in 245/30 front and 285/25 rear Michelin tires, can be ordered, too. For a more ferocious roar, G-Power can provide a new, hand-built rear silencer, with matching tail pipes.
Granted, these changes don’t transform the Z4 SK Plus into a Hurricane killer, but the tuner charges only €2.500 (VAT excluded) for the performance upgrade, which as we mentioned previously, is also available for the E46 BMW 3 Series.
